Table 2

 Key factors associated with STI diagnosis/es*,† at the study GUM clinic, by gender

RowCrude OR (95% CI)Adjusted OR‡ (95% CI)Denominator
*Acute STIs are defined as infectious syphilis (KC60 codes: A1, A2), uncomplicated gonorrhoea (KC60 codes: B1, B2), complicated gonorrhoea (KC60 code: B5), chancroid/lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)/donovanosis (KC60 codes: C1, C2 & C3); chlamydial infection (uncomplicated/complicated) (KC60 codes: C4a, C4b, C4c); uncomplicated non-gonoccocal/non-specific urethritis in males (KC60 code: C4h); complicated non-gonoccocal/non-specific infection (KC60 code: C5); herpes simplex (first attack) (KC60 code: C10a); genital warts (first attack) (KC60 code: C11a); trichomoniasis (KC60 code: C6a).
†618/1624 men and 443/1560 women were diagnosed with acute STIs at the study GUM clinic.
‡Parsimonious multivariate model identified through forward stepwise logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) are adjusted for all variables significant in the parsimonious multivariate model. Criteria for inclusion in the multivariate model is p<0.10, except for age and ethnicity (see Methods).
Men, all:38.1% 1624
Age:p = 0.159p = 0.102
    16–2438.9%1.001.00604
    25–3439.3%1.02 (0.68–1.53)0.99 (0.67–1.46)603
    35+35.0%0.85 (0.68–1.06)0.73 (0.53–1.01)414
Ethnicity:p = 0.007p = 0.002
    Other ethnicity36.7%1.001.001485
    Black Caribbean52.5%1.91 (1.39–2.61)2.43 (1.87–3.16)139
Have/had symptoms:p = 0.001p = 0.037
    No27.2%1.001.00853
    Yes50.1%2.68 (2.10–3.43)2.09 (1.09–4.00)771
Had symptoms for <1 week:p = 0.024p = 0.134
    No35.5%1.001.001475
    Yes63.8%3.20 (1.34–7.63)1.80 (0.72–4.49)149
Symptoms worsened since first contacted health professional:p = 0.001p = 0.033
    No symptoms26.1%1.001.00766
    Symptoms did not worsen (stayed the same or improved)41.0%1.96 (1.47–2.63)0.95 (0.48–1.89)337
    Symptoms worsened53.7%3.29 (2.59–4.17)1.68 (0.93–3.05)521
Women, all:28.4%1560
Age:p = 0.052p = 0.129
    16–2432.4%1.001.00814
    25–3424.7%0.68 (0.55–0.85)0.70 (0.51–0.95)494
    35+22.6%0.61 (0.38–0.99)0.60 (0.30–1.17)252
Ethnicity:p = 0.020p = 0.038
    Other ethnicity29.0%1.001.001488
    Black African16.7%0.49 (0.30–0.81)0.52 (0.29–0.94)72
Used/tried to use general practice before going to GUM clinic:p = 0.003p = 0.003
    No25.0%1.001.001007
    Yes34.5%1.58 (1.35–1.85)1.39 (1.24–1.55)553
Symptoms improved since first contacted health professional:p = 0.024p = 0.037
    No symptoms18.7%1.001.00734
    Symptoms improved32.2%2.07 (0.94–4.56)1.74 (0.77–3.92)633
    Symptoms did not improve (stayed the same or worsened)52.9%4.88 (2.96–8.06)3.65 (2.20–6.07)193
Self-treated symptoms:p = 0.090p = 0.048
    No symptoms20.3%1.001.00843
    Symptoms but did not self-treat40.1%2.63 (1.44–4.80)1.44 (0.84–2.47)491
    Symptoms and self-treated33.2%1.95 (1.09–3.50)0.98 (0.53–1.84)226